IAM Local S6 Members at Bath Iron Works Ratify Historic Five-Year Labor Agreement

BATH, Maine, Aug. 23, 2026 – Nearly 4,500 IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) Local S6 members at Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Bath, Maine, have voted to ratify a historic five-year collective bargaining agreement that delivers significant wage increases, stronger workplace protections and no concessions.

The agreement, unanimously recommended by the IAM Local S6 Negotiating Committee, delivers a 17% general wage increase in the first year, followed by 4% increases in each of the remaining four years.

Contract highlights include:

Zero concessions from the IAM Local S6 membership.
General wage increases of 17% in the first year, followed by 4% in each of the remaining four years.
Increased shift premiums to $2.50 per hour for second- and third-shift employees.
Locked-in healthcare costs for the duration of the agreement.
Improved 401(k) contributions.
Stronger seniority and job protections, including safeguards addressing outsourcing.
Greater flexibility for time off and improvements to attendance provisions.
Stronger protections involving new technology, artificial intelligence and robotics.
Additional protections for bargaining-unit work and increased union involvement in workplace decisions.

The agreement holds special significance for IAM International President Brian Bryant and IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, both of whom began their IAM careers as shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works and members of IAM Local S6.

“As a proud member of Local S6 and a former Bath Iron Works shipbuilder, I know firsthand the skill, determination and solidarity of this membership,” said IAM Union International President Brian Bryant. “This historic agreement recognizes the tremendous value our members bring to Bath Iron Works, the state of Maine and our nation’s defense. I congratulate the negotiating committee and every Local S6 member who stood together to secure a stronger future for themselves and their families.”

“This agreement is a testament to the strength and solidarity of our members here in Maine and the hard work of their negotiating committee,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan. “Our members made their priorities clear, and this committee went to the table determined to deliver. Securing major economic gains and stronger contract protections without giving up hard-fought language is something every Local S6 member can be proud of.”

The agreement follows months of preparation and negotiations driven by priorities identified directly by IAM Local S6 members through bargaining surveys. The final agreement addresses the majority of the priorities members identified as most important heading into negotiations.

“This committee went to the table with one mission: fight for what our members told us they deserved, and that’s exactly what we did,” said IAM District 4 Business Representative Chris Wiers. “We brought home historic wage increases, stronger job protections and improvements across this agreement without giving up the hard-fought language our members have defended for generations. This committee stood its ground, our membership stood behind us, and the result is a contract that raises the bar for Local S6 members and their families.”

“This agreement is about our members and the value of the work they do every single day at Bath Iron Works,” said IAM Local S6 President Tim Suitter. “Our members told us what mattered to them, they stood together throughout this process, and we fought to deliver those priorities at the bargaining table. I’m incredibly proud of our negotiating committee and our entire Local S6 membership.”

The ratification marks an important moment for IAM Local S6 members, who have a long history of standing together to protect good union jobs and shipbuilding work in Maine. In 2020, Local S6 members demonstrated that solidarity during a 63-day strike at Bath Iron Works over subcontracting, seniority and other issues affecting the future of their work.

The new five-year agreement takes effect Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, and runs through Aug. 24, 2031.

The IAM Union (International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers) represents approximately 600,000 active and retired members in aerospace, defense, airlines, railroad, shipbuilding, transit, healthcare, automotive, and other industries across the United States and Canada.

Legal Disclaimer:

EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.